Adjustably mounted bench clamp



Sept. 25, 1956 w, HEIMES 2,764,195

ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED BENCH CLAMP Filed May 3, 1954 mym'roze. W////am H/MQSK BY Z g rt /am! M United States Patent 'Ofilice 2,764,195 PatentedSept. 25, 1 956 ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED BENCH CLAMP William Heimes, Spokane,Wash.

Application May 3, 1954, Serial No. 427,137

3 Claims. (Cl. 144'290) This invention relates to manual tools and moreparticularly to a bench clamp.

One ob'ject .of the invention lies in the provision of a clamp adaptedto .clamp a work piece to the horizontal work supporting surface .ofabench.

Another object ofthe invention lies in the provision of a clamp having ashank and clamping means adapted for selective removal from the benchwhereupon a smooth .working surfaceisprovided when theclamp is 'not inuse.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a bench clampwhich cooperates with portions of the clamp rigidly fixed to the top ofthe bench at a plurality of predetermined locations thereby adapting theclamp for positioninig at one of a number of possible locations.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts:

Figure l is a view partially in elevation and partially in cross sectionshowing the preferred embodiment of my improved bench clamp;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section taken at line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section of a modified form of thepresent invention; and,

Figure 4 is a view at line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, I have employed thenumeral to indicate the bench clamp as a complete unit and it will beseen that the clamp has a substantially L-shaped clamp beam 11 having avertically depending shank portion 12 and angularly disposed footportion 13. The foot portion 13 is I-shaped when viewed in cross sectionand the shank portion 12 is T-shaped when viewed in cross section.

On its free end, the foot portion 13 is provided with a sleeve 14 havingits axis disposed vertically, and internally the sleeve 14 is threadedto receive clamp screw 15 which is provided with a manually operablehandle 16 at its upper end and a clamp jaw 17 at its lower end. Theclamp screw 15 is rotatably secured in the jaw 17 and the jaw 17 extendsrearwardly to the shank 12 where it is slidably secured as at 18.

On its web portion the shank 12 is provided with a plurality of recesses19, the use of which will be hereinafter described.

The present clamp is adapted for use with a work bench and since thebench may be formed of any desired rigid construction, the details arenot disclosed herein except to show the horizontal top 20 which has ahorizontal work supporting surface 21.

Extending downwardly through the top 20 I provide a sleeve 22 which hasan annular flange 23 constituting a face plate and this face plate 23 isrecessed into the top 20 so that its upper surface is flush with thework supporting surface 21 of the top 20.

On its bottom side the top 20 is provided with a securing flange 24which also has a depending sleeve 25 disposed -in axial alignment withthe .sleeve 22 and the face plate 231's secured to the top 20 by .meansof flat head bolts 26 which extend downwardly through the face plate andflange 24 and are rigidly secured by means of com panion nuts 27. p i

The second sleeve 25 is provided with a radially disposed cylindricalhousing 28 which contains a tension spring 29 adapted to urge a manuallyoperable plunger 30 through anaperture 31 formed in the wall of thesleeve 25 so that the-inner end'of the plunger 30 may cooperate withselectedones of the recesses 19 to selectively lock the shank 12 of theclamp 10 at vertically adjusted positions, The cylindrical housing 28 isprovided with -a covering cap 32. Plunger 30 is provided with a handknob 33 for convenience of operation.

Examination of 'Figure .2 will reveal that the bore 34 of the sleeves 22and 25'is commensuratein cross sectional shape with the cross sectionalshape of the shank 12 and therefore the clamp is secured againstrelative rotation therein and is adapted for vertically adjustedpositioning.

In the modified form of the invention, the face plate 23' is providedwith-anann-ular recess 35 and the flange 24' does not have an integraldepending sleeve 25, but rather a cylindrical sleeve 36 extendsdownwardly through the cylindrical bore 37 of the sleeve 22. At itsupper end, sleeve 36 is provided with an annular collar 38 whichcooperates with the recess 35 to prevent down ward movement of thesleeve beyond a position flush with the face plate 23'. At its lower endthe sleeve is provided with a clamping ring 39 which is rcleasablysecured to the sleeve by means of set bolts 40 and this prevents upwardmovement of the sleeve 36 out of the sleeve 22'. However, relativerotational movement is permitted by this construction. The clamping ring39 is provided with the radially disposed cylindrical housing 28' whichcontains the tension spring 29 urging the plunger 3% into the bore ofthe sleeve 36 through an aperture 31. The

plunger is provided with a convenient hand knob 33. In this constructionthe shank 12 extends through the bore 41 of the sleeve 36 and isvertically reciprocable therein but is secured against relativerotational move ment with relation to the sleeve. The sleeve 36 isrotatably carried by the sleeve and face plate 22 and 23. The plungerextends into the recesses 19' formed in the shank 12' for selectivemanual vertical positioning.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bench clamp for clamping a work piece to the horizontal worksupport surface of a bench top comprising a metal sleeve extendingdownwardly through said top and having an annular flange constituting aface plate recessed flush with the work supporting surface of said top;a clamping flange disposed on the under side of said top verticallybelow said face plate and rigidly securing said sleeve in said top bymeans of a plurality of flat head bolts extending downwardly throughsaid face plate and clamping flange and having companion clamping nuts;a second depending sleeve axially aligned with said first named sleevebelow said clamping flange; said second named sleeve having a radiallyextending housing; an aperture coaxial with said housing andcommunicating through the wall of said second named sleeve with itsinner bore; a spring biased plunger carried in said housing and urgedinto said second named sleeve through said communicating aperture, formanual withdrawal therefrom; an L-shaped clamp beam having a shankportion extending downwardly through the bores of said sleeves andhaving a right angle foot portion; said shank having a plurality ofrecesses adapted to receive said plunger for releasably securing saidshank at selected vertically adjusted positions; the right angle foot ofsaid clamp having an internally threaded sleeve on its free end anddisposed 3 axially parallel with the shank; a manually operable clampscrew threadedly engaged in said last named sleeve; and a clamp jaw onthe lower end of said clamp screw.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the bore of said'axiallyaligned sleeves is T-shaped in cross section and the shank of said clampbeam is also T-shaped in cross section and non-rotatable therein.

'3; A bench clamp for clamping a work piece to the horizontal worksupporting surface of a bench top comprising a metal sleeve extendingdownwardly through said top and having an annular flange constituting aface plate recessed flush with the work supporting surface of said top;a clamping flange disposed on the underside of said top vertically belowsaid face plate and rigidly securing said sleeve in said top by means ofa plurality of flat headed bolts extending downwardly through said faceplate and clamping flange and having companion clamping nuts; saidsleeve and clamping flange having axially aligned cylindrical borestherethrough; said face plate being provided with an annular recesssurrounding said bore; a rotatable 20 accidental upward movement thereofout of said first named sleeve; said clamping band being provided with aradial extending resiliently biased plunger extending into said secondnamed sleeve through an aperture in the wall thereof and adapted formanual withdrawal therefrom; an L-shaped clamp beam having a shank and aright angle foot; the shank of said beam extending downwardly throughthe bore of said second named sleeve and confined therein againstrotation relative thereto and vertically slidable therein; said shankhaving a plurality of recesses into which said plunger may selectivelybe inserted for securing said shank against relative vertical movementto said second named sleeve; and manually operable clamping meanscarried by said shank above said bench top and movable toward and awaytherefrom for clamping action therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS418,771 Tower Jan. 7, 1890 974,482 Goodell Nov. 1, 1910 2,661,783 CastonDec. 8, 1953 2,685,310 Lang Aug. 3, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,992 GreatBritain Sept. 21, 1942

